FAQ
Traditionally, natural
gas is thought of as a source of heat. In what
other ways do businesses use natural gas?
In addition to their heating needs, many businesses
use natural gas to conduct day-to-day business
operations. Restaurants often use it for cooking,
laundries for water heating and hotels and motels
use it for heating water and laundry services.
Industrial facilities use it daily in their ongoing
manufacturing processes. Some even use it to generate
electricity. So natural gas can be implemented
for a much broader range of uses than just simple
space heating.
What’s the
situation for businesses, in terms of what they
can expect from the energy markets in the future?
Nationally those in the energy industry are anticipating
an across-the-board increase in natural gas supply
costs. While industrial facilities are better
equipped to deal with such increases like fuel
switching, shutting down certain processes or
moving production to off-peak times, small and
medium retail and commercial businesses can be
hurt significantly by such increases. A retail
operation is limited in responding to high prices.
Is there a way for
businesses to get ahead of the game?
Deregulation has allowed businesses to seek out
alternative supplies for natural gas. The Public
Utilities Commission regulates utilities. They
are not allowed to make or lose money on the sale
of the gas commodity itself. So, their costs are
passed on, penny-for-penny, to their customers.
What an alternative supplier like Volunteer Energy (VE) brings
to the table is the ability to go out into the
wholesale market, leverage our customers’
buying power to secure competitive pricing, and
deliver a solid, beneficial product to the end
user. Energy conservation, targeting lighting
and HVAC are helpful but usually require a capital
investment in the conservation project.
What are your current
rates?
Please contact your sales representative for information
about your business energy needs.
Do you have any good
ways to save energy?
Yes, we can direct you to some sources where you
can find energy saving tips.
What is the NYMEX?
New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas is purchased
and sold against the NYMEX price. You can also
purchase natural gas futures on the NYMEX.
How do I get started if I want to sign
up my business?
You can look up natural gas providers in the phone
book or call us at 1-800-977-VESI (8374).